There’s no doubt that gaming mouse pads can help you achieve better tracking and control over your mouse movement. However, because they come in different sizes, it can be difficult to determine how big your gaming mouse pad should be.
Gaming mouse pads are available in four different sizes; small, medium, large, and extended. While size is among the things you should consider when getting a gaming mouse pad, no particular size works great for everyone. This is because the needs and play styles of every gamer are different.Â
Generally, you should get a large-sized gaming mouse pad if you play games with your mouse set to a low DPI. This will ensure you have enough room for mouse movement. Small to medium-sized mouse pads work great if you prefer gaming with a high DPI mouse setting.Â
Consider the following when deciding on the size of your gaming mouse pad:
- Your gaming mouse DPI/sensitivity setting
- Mouse Grip style
- Size of your desk
- Portability
1. Your Gaming Mouse DPI/Sensitivity Setting
Your gaming mouse DPI setting is among the key things that affect how big of a gaming mouse pad you should get. You need a bigger mouse pad when gaming at a low DPI because, in order for your mouse cursor to cover a large distance on the screen, your mouse also has to be moved a larger distance.
When playing FPS games such as Call of Duty, and Doom Eternal, you’ll most likely be gaming at a low DPI (400-1000). A low DPI allows you to have better control of your movement and precision when scoping targets.
Therefore, for FPS gaming, it is advisable to get a large gaming mouse pad to avoid running out of space. On the other hand, if you prefer gaming at a high DPI, then a small to medium-sized mouse pad will work well.Â
At a high DPI (over 1000), small mouse movements cause your cursor to cover a large distance on the screen. A high DPI is preferred when playing fast-paced RTS, MMO, and MOBA games where speed rather than precision is required.  Â
2. Mouse Grip Style
The second most important thing when it comes to determining the size of the mouse pad is your mouse grip style. There are three types of mouse grip styles: palm grip, claw grip, and fingertip grip.Â
When using the claw and fingertip grip styles, your mouse movement is mostly controlled by your fingers and wrist. This keeps your arm movement centered within a small area and you, therefore, don’t need a large mouse pad.
If you use the palm grip style, you’ll need a large mouse pad since your mouse movement is controlled by the whole arm. You’ll need a lot of space with this grip style when switching targets or making 360° turns.
At a low mouse DPI, you can use up as much as 30 cm to do a full 360 turn. Also, if you are fond of lifting your mouse to readjust it, you need a large gaming mouse pad to avoid constantly going past the edges which can get annoying.
3. Size Of Your Desk
Before buying a large or extended mouse pad you must first make sure that it will fit on your gaming desk. You can do this by checking the measurements of the mouse pad online before buying and comparing it to the free space you have available on your desk.
Oversize mouse pads will not only make your desk look untidy but also tend to warp or fold around the edges of a small desk. Folds and warps are bad because they create an uneven surface that is bad for mouse tracking, which beats the logic of having a mouse pad in the first place.Â
4. Portability: Do You Game On The Go?
Lastly, you need to consider if portability is a priority for you. If you’re buying a gaming mouse pad to use with your gaming laptop, then you want a medium or small mouse pad that is easy to fold and carry to LAN parties and esports events.
How Big Are Gaming Mouse Pads?
Generally, gaming mouse pads are bigger than regular mouse pads to provide gamers with extra space to move their mouse without running out of space. The size of gaming mouse pads differs from one manufacturer to another in terms of length, width, and thickness.Â
The mouse pad size chart below shows some of the sizes offered by popular brands to give you a rough idea of what to expect:
Gaming Mouse Pad Dimensions Table
Mouse pad dimensions = (Length x Width x Height) mm
| Small Size | Medium Size | Large Size | Extended Size | |
| Steelseries | 250 x 210 x 2 mm | 320 x 270 x 2 mm | 450 x 400 x 2 mm | 900 x 400 x 4 mm |
| Razer | 270 x 215 x 3 mm | 360 x 275 x 3 mm | 450 x 400 x 3 mm | 940 x 410 x 4 mm |
| Corsair | 265 x 210 x 2 mm | 352 x 272 x 2.5 mm | 450 x 400 x 3 mm | 930 x 300 x 3mm |
| MadCatz | 320 x 270 x 1.8 mm | 390 x 315 x 1.8 mm | 430 x 370 x 1.8 mm | 900 x 400 x 1.8 mm |
| Aorus | 265 x 210 x 3 mm | 350 x 260 x 3mm | 440 x 300 x 3mm | 1000 x 400 x 3mm |
Note: Gaming mouse pad dimensions vary depending on the brand.
When To Use an Extended Gaming Mouse Pad
Whether to get an extended mouse pad or not is a matter of personal preference. You should get one if you need more space to move your mouse or if you want your gaming keyboard and mouse to be on the same level.Â
In addition, extended mouse pads made out of cloth help absorb the vibration produced by your keyboard when typing. Compared to hard surfaces, they are also more comfortable to rest your wrists on when using your keyboard and mouse.
The major drawback of extended mouse pads is that they are more expensive and require a large desk or table surface to rest on. Unused surfaces of the mouse pad sometimes act like dust magnets, thus it requires regular cleaning.Â
An extra-large mouse pad is also less portable than a small one. So if you need to be mobile, you are better off with a small or medium-sized mouse pad.
Final Thoughts
Keeping in mind the factors outlined above should help you determine how big of a mouse pad you need for gaming. The ideal mouse pad size is one that provides you with enough room to glide your mouse over without ever getting to the edges of the mat.Â
